Saliva ejector



' Aug. 17, 1926.

1,596,478 F. M. BITTENBENDER SALIVA EJEC'TQR Filed April 2, 1926 Fl'ma amocmtoz Patented Aug, 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SALIVA EJ'ECTOR.

Application filed April 2, 1926.

This invention aims to provide a saliva ejector so constructed that the tissue cannot be drawn into the ejector, thereby stopping the action of the ejector and giving the patient discomfort.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear asthe description roceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation;

Figure 2 is a fragmental section;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3- S of Figure 2 Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 2 but showing one of the ports closed;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the closure member;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 5.

The numeral 1 marits a hook-shaped tube, made of glass or any other material, and connected at one end to a suction conduit 2, an article ofthe class described being used, in a well known way, and generally by dentists, to draw saliva out of the mouth of a patient whilst an operation is going on. The tube 1 terminates in anenlarged bulb 3 having oppositely disposed openings or ports 4, which taper inwardly. for the ports 4 is provided, the same including a rod-like body 5 provided at its ends with inwardly tapered heads 6 and 7, one of which may be detachably mounted on the body 5, if desired. The closure, shown in detail in Figure 5, may be made out of any desired material. The body 5 of the closure extends across the bulb or foot of the tube 1,

and the heads 6 cooperate with the openings A closure Serial No. 99,319.

i. The body 5 is long enough so that the closure can have some lengthwise movement, and, consequently, both of the apertures 4 maybe open at once, as shown in Figure 2, or one of the apertures may the other aperture may be closed, as shown in Figure 4. Even though one of the apertures may be closed by the corresponding heads 6 or 7, as shown in Figure l, saliva still can find its way into the tube 1, since the heads 6 and 7 are supplied upon their inner surfaces with longitudinal grooves 8 which admit saliva, even though one of the heads 6 or '7 happens to be seated, as in Figure 4.

The construction of the device, obviously,

is such that, although saliva can find its way readily into the tube 1, it will be prac- 'tically impossible for the tissues of the mouth to be drawn by suction into either of the openings 4.

lVhat is claimed is l. A saliva ejector comprising a tube having oppositely disposed openings, and a closure including openings, and a connection uniting the heads, the connection being of such length that only one head at a time can be received closely in one opening.

A saliva ejectorcomprising a tube having oppositely disposed openings, and a closure including heads adapted to stop the openings, and a connection joining the heads, the connections being of such length that when the closure is in an intermediate position, both openings will be uncovered endugh to admit saliva and neither opening will be uncovered enough to admit tissue.

3. A saliva ejector comprising a tube having oppositely disposed openings, and a closure comprising heads cooperating with the openings, and a connection uniting the heads, the connection being of such length that only one head at a time can seat in the corresponding openings, the heads being provided with peripheral grooves.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

FRANGI$ M,

be opened, and

heads cooperating with the 

